Philbrick, W. R. (2014). Zane and the hurricane: A story of Katrina. Houston, TX: The Blue Sky Press. For Ages: 10-14

Personal Response: This book is a true page turner. It depicts a 12 year old boy who gets caught by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans while visiting his grandmother for the first time. The boy, Zane has many adventures with his new friends (Mr. Tru and Malvina) that rescued him. The story was particularly interesting to me because I lived through this hurricane and experienced Hurricane Rita two weeks after Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans. So, we all have our personal stories and Zane's story is a colorful one. And his new friends each had stories of their own as well. 

Literary Response: The setting of the story is so horribly vivid. I can feel Zane's anxiety as he chased after his dog Bandy, as he saw the water rising in his grandmother's house and when he felt that he would never see his mother again. I can understand why his old grandmother did not chase after him when he was lost on the highway. This historically fictitious book conjured up memories that I had suppressed. But as I read, I experienced the tragedy all over again - only this time I saw things through Zane's eyes and through his story. 

Firebird

Copeland, M., & Myers, C. (2014). Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland shows a young girl how to dance like the firebird. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers. For Ages:  6-8

Personal Response: Prima Ballerina, Misty Copeland writes a dynamic children's book about what it takes to make it a ballerina. All of her hard work and efforts that she puts in as being a ballerina is now known to aspiring ballerinas all over the world. Her story of perseverance is not only inspires young dancers, but could inspire any young child looking to achieve some type of goal. The illustrator uses vibrant and detailed paintings to help bring her story to life. 

Literary Response: Misty Copeland's character is successful at let her story be known. She was not  "supposed" to be successful in her passion because she did not "fit" 

the profile of the typical ballerina. But against all odds, Misty surpassed all expectations and biases that threatened to hold her back from living her dream. 

Brown Girl Dreaming

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. New York, NY: Nancy Paulsen Books. For Ages: 10-13 

Personal Response: This book is a touching memoir of the author's experience growing up as a young girl. Each poem is very heartfelt and compelling. Jacqueline Woodson offers some insight into her life and her feelings about what she going through at the time. Other African American women can relate and in some cases empathize with Woodson's experiences. This is also a book that young black girls could also relate to.

Literary Response:  Woodson explains her story of poems by depicting the environment in which she was raised. This was the setting in which her story takes place. She told stories of being in New York with family and being in the South with her family. Due to the times in which she grew up, she experienced significant differences within each setting.